A Higher Calling

Another inspiring story, and shockingly, this time it comes from ESPN. So often our athletes disappoint us with their blatantly immoral and selfish behavior. Most recently, Mark McGuire let us all know that he would have told the truth sooner if only he was granted immunity. According to McGuire, speaking truthfully is not in itself a duty he owes to other people, it is only something he would do if we guaranteed to him that he would not be held accountable for his actions. His failure to tell the truth was really our fault. If only Congress had guaranteed him immunity for all the repercussions of his steroid use and cheating, the public could have gotten to the bottom of things much sooner. Unfortunately, McGuire’s attitude is not only typical among athletes, but persists among many famous and successful people in our society.

And so the story about top Oakland A’s prospect, Grant Desme, leaving his baseball career behind at the age of 23, and heading to the seminary, stands in stark contrast to McGuire and most other athletes. Desme announced Friday that he was leaving baseball to enter the priesthood, walking away after a breakout season in which he was named MVP of the Arizona Fall League. He was doing really well, and full of so much baseball potential, but he felt a higher call to serve God and his church. It took a tremendous amount of courage for Desme to follow God and his call, and it is my prayer that more of our young people will do the same.